Prices of essential kitchen items soar in Islamabad

Prices of essential kitchen items went up significantly during this week past against the preceding week, a survey conducted by Business Recorder revealed here on Saturday. The survey observed that prices of most of the vegetables, eggs, chicken and fruits during this week registered an increase while the prices of non-perishable daily use items including rice, spices, pulses, wheat flour and others remained stable.
Chicken prices with an increase of Rs 700 per 40kg went up from Rs 4,300 to Rs 5,000 per 40kg, which in retail market is being sold at Rs 150 per kg against Rs 135 per kg, while chicken meat is being sold at Rs 230 per kg against Rs 200 per kg. Eggs prices went up from Rs 115 per dozen to Rs 125 per dozen which in retail are being sold at Rs 140 per dozen.
However during the week under review, tomatoes price further went down from Rs 1,100 to Rs 700 per 15kg box, onions price remained stable at Rs 250 per 5kg and potatoes price went down from Rs 200 per 5kg to Rs 175 per 5kg. In retail market, onion was being sold at Rs 60 per kg, tomatoes at Rs 80 per kg against Rs 100 per kg and potatoes at Rs 50 per kg.
The price of various qualities of garlic witnessed an increase as local garlic price went up from Rs 400 per 5kg to Rs 500 per 5kg, while Chinese garlic from Rs 600 per kg to Rs 900 per 5kg which in retail market was being sold at Rs 140-200 per kg. Ginger price remained stable in the range of Rs 450-600 per 5kg which in retail is being sold at Rs 120-140 per kg.
During the week under review, prices of the entire range of non-perishable kitchen remained stable as best quality rice was available at Rs 130 per kg, wheat at Rs 750 per 20kg bag and sugar was being sold at Rs 60 per kg. Prices of all the major pulses witnessed no change as white lentil (Maash) was being sold at Rs 180 per kg, good quality grams at Rs 200 per kg, kidney bean (Lobia) in the range of Rs 120-140 per kg, green gram (Moong) at Rs 120 per kg and red lentils (Masoor) at Rs 110 per kg.
Spinach price went up from Rs 80 per 5kg to Rs 150 per 5kg in wholesales market while in retail market it was being sold at Rs 25 per bundle against Rs 15 per bundle and mint price further went up from Rs 80 per 5kg to Rs 150 per 5kg which was being sold at Rs 25 per bundle against Rs 15 per bundle.
Capsicum price went up from Rs 400 pr 5kg to Rs 600 per 5kg which in retail market was being sold at Rs 140 per kg against Rs 100 per kg; peas price went down from Rs 700 per 5kg to Rs 400 per 5kg in wholesales market, which in retail were being sold at Rs 100 per kg against Rs 170 per kg; taro's (arvi) price further went down from Rs 160 per 5kg to Rs 140 per 5kg which in retail market was being sold at Rs 40 per kg against Rs 45 per kg; carrot price went up from Rs 120 per 5kg to Rs 200 per 5kg which in retail market was being sold at Rs 50 per kg against Rs 35 per kg; and a pack of 8kg radish remained stable at Rs 100 per pack which in retail market was being sold at Rs 25 per kg.
Okra price went up from Rs 350 per 5kg to Rs 900 per 5kg which in retail market was being sold at Rs 200 per kg against Rs 80 per kg, while price of ridge gourd (tori) went up from Rs 240 per 5kg to Rs 350 per 5kg which in retail market was being sold at Rs 85 per kg against Rs 65 per kg. Cauliflower price went up from Rs 120 per 5kg to Rs 300 per 5kg which in retail market was being sold at Rs 75 per kg against Rs 35 per kg and cabbage price went up from Rs 170 per 5kg to Rs 200 per 5kg, which in retail market was being sold at Rs 50 per kg.
Brinjal price further went up from Rs 200 per 5kg to Rs 250 per 5kg which in retail market was being sold at Rs 60 per kg against Rs 50 per kg, cucumber price remained stable at Rs 200 per 5kg, while in retail market it was being sold at Rs 50 per kg.
Price of apple gourd (tinda) further went up from Rs 200 per 5kg to Rs 250 per 5kg, which in retail market was being sold at Rs 60 per kg against Rs 50 per kg; pumpkin (maro kaddu) price further went up from Rs 180 to Rs 200 per 5kg which in retail market was being sold at Rs 50 per kg; bitter gourd (karela) price further went up from Rs 300 to Rs 500 per 5kg which in retail market was being sold at Rs 120 per kg against Rs 70 per kg.
Fruits prices also witnessed an increase as good quality banana's price went up from Rs 60 per dozen to Rs 90 per dozen and normal quality banana was being sold in the range of at Rs 60-70 per dozen against Rs 40-50 per dozen. Guava price went up from Rs 60 per kg to Rs 80 per kg and normal quality guava was available from Rs 40 per kg to Rs 60 per kg. However pomegranate price witnessed no change as a box of 16kg pomegranate was available at Rs 1,600 per box which in retail market was being sold at Rs 150 per kg. New arrival various qualities of oranges are available in the range of Rs 70 per dozen to Rs 120 per dozen.
Normal quality apple's price went up from Rs 60 per kg to Rs 80 per kg, Kala Kalu apple from Rs 100 per kg to Rs 120 per kg, golden apple was being sold at Rs 120 per kg, while Chinese and other imported apples were being sold in the range of Rs 200-250 per kg.